Former Gator Robinson Enjoys "Greatest Moment" in O'Connell Center
Thursday, July 24, 2008 | Volleyball
Former University of Florida right-side hitter Jacque Robinson (Merced, Calif.) enjoyed a lot of great moments in the Stephen C. O'Connell Center during her career from 2000-03, including a three-game sweep of Penn State her senior year to send the Gators to their seventh NCAA Final Four in school history.
But none of those moments that the two-time AVCA All-Region selection experienced during her prolific career in a Florida uniform could top the events of Tuesday, July 8.
Robinson was one of seven members of the 2003 squad, which advanced to the NCAA National Championship match for the first time in school history and finished the year ranked No. 2 in the nation, who were working at head coach Mary Wise's highly popular summer camps. Michelle Chatman, Aury Cruz, Rihan Davis, Rachel Engel, Benavia Jenkins and Sherri Williams all had ventured to Gainesville that week.
Wise and the members of the 2003 squad were speaking to campers that day about the experience of being a University of Florida student-athlete. Wise asked each of the players to discuss their favorite moment at the O'Connell Center.
Robinson was the last former player to respond. She said that all of her teammates had already shared her own personal favorite experiences in the O'Dome, but claimed that her favorite moment as a Gator was beating Hawaii in the NCAA Semifinal in 2003 to advance to the National Championship match. Robinson then returned the microphone to Wise.
Wise was quick to correct the 6-foot-2 Robinson.
“That wasn't your greatest moment as a Gator,” she quipped.
Then, Alex Huggins, Robinson's boyfriend of 4 ? years and a Gainesville native, emerged and proposed to Robinson in front of her former teammates and coaches, and all of the campers. The proposal was met with a rousing applause and tears of happiness from the nearly 350 campers in attendance.
“My fianc? knows how much the University of Florida and the volleyball program mean to me,” Robinson said. “I just can't stop smiling, thinking of how he thought to do something like that for me. I was so happy that Mary and [Coordinator of Volleyball Operations] Kelley [Kish] were in on it.”
Robinson met Huggins at a social gathering on Halloween night in 2003, her senior season. They were introduced by former Florida volleyball player Nicole McCray, who now serves as the head coach at Panola College in Carthage, Texas, and have been dating ever since.
“It was really cool because my fianc? knows the volleyball girls just about as well as I do,” Robinson said. “It was so nice to have so many of them there – they are some of my best friends. Even though Nicole couldn't be there, she was one of the first people I called. We both called her and thanked her for introducing us.”
The volleyball staff videotaped the entire proposal, which Robinson is anxiously looking forward to watching.
“I am dying to see the tape,” Robinson said. “I've been told that I didn't even say 'Yes;' I just started screaming.”
Robinson remains active in volleyball, currently as the head varsity coach at Okeechobee High School in Okeechobee, Fla., where she serves as an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) teacher.
The two have not firmly set a date or location for their wedding, but, if all goes according to plan, they would like to wed on April 18, 2009 in the Tampa, Fla., area.
Photo Caption: On hand for Robinson's engagement (see photo to right) were Sherri Williams, fianc? Alex Huggins, Amber McCray, Rihan Davis, Michelle Chatman, Robinson, Benavia Jenkins, Aury Cruz and Rachel Engel.
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